Clergy and the faithful people began arriving during Matins Sunday morning. After venerating the icons one by one they approached their diocesan bishop, His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America, for a blessing at the start of a new day. Midway through the service the clergy disappeared only to reappear in their vestments and in processesion, welcoming the bishop who was also fully vested and thus the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy began in a full church.

Singing the responses during the liturgy was the very talented Youth Chorale and the Catheral Cantors led by their gifted director Johnny Braun.

While the Divine Liturgy plays a central role in all church gatherings, the Diocesan Days liturgies are joyous events in particular as clergy from throughout the diocese gather around one Holy Table as the bishop leds them and the faithful people who have come from different parishes and regions of the vast diocese, in the eucharistic prayer.

Later, during the festive but formal banquet in the main hall on this final day of the Diocesan Day gathering the female ethno group Breze performed once more. This was followed by a surprise performance by Popadija – and extremely talented cellist- Biljana Bojovic who perfomed a few pieces, beginning with a very moving rendition of Suza Kosova. The junior and senior Kalemegdan folklore groups from the neighborning St. Sava Church in San Gabriel also wowed the audience during the program. Debra Tasic our Diocesan treasurer thanked this year's guest speaker, Fr. Timothy, while Bishop Maxim presented him with the monumentous publication, The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija. Later, Debra made a very special announcement that the Diocesan Vice President, Jasmina Boulanger, had been awarded the Serbian Orthodox Church's highest distinction, the Medal of St. Sava, which His Grace Bishop Maxim presented to her.

In his keynote address the guest speaker, Fr. Timothy Pavlatos, touched on a number of themes he had already discussed the previous two days. More specifically, he stressed the importance of this very fellowship, the need for clergy to support one another, to be with one another and, naturally, to pray with one another. Due to their demanding position as parish priests who oftentimes spend hours doing other things in the parish not necessarily related to their priestly calling, Fr. Timothy called upon the faithful to bear this in mind and support their parish priests that they not suffer a burnout. He noted how a bishop had once told him that according to some of the holy fathers the demons appoint 7 demons to a priest at his ordination because if he can cause one priest to stumble and fall through temptation a much larger number will fall with him.Furthermore, he cited a case in which members of an AA group were asked what was it they found most appealing in their groups. Their answer was the overwhelming feeling of being safe during those meetings as they revealed and discussed their, oftentimes, most embarrassing moments during their addictions. Similarly, we are called to ensure this same sense of security in our parish communities. Subsequently we will be more open with one another since it is usually because of the things we hide from one another that we develop habits and addictions which have a tendency to overtake our lives and even ruin them.

Live music and fellowship continued throughout the afternoon hours. But this was also the time that many of the clergy slowly said their good-byes as they had to begin their, in many cases, long journey home. They will continue to stay in touch and visit neighboring priests throughout the year and for various occasions: baptisms, funerals, Slavas, etc. But they will have to wait until Labor Day weekend next year when once again the bishop, all the clergy and monastics and all the faithful sons and daughters of the Holy Serbian Orthodox Church and members of the Western American Diocese, meet in Jackson for the 22nd Annual Diocesan Days!

“A blessed beginning and conclusion,“ said His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America, surrounded by the concelebrating diocesan clergy clad in an array of fesively colored vestments at the end of the Holy Hieararchical Divine Liturgy Saturday morning. The liturgy and prayer of the Invocation of the Holy Spirit marked not only the beginning of the second day of Diocesan Days but also the Diocesan Annual Assembly which began immediately after a continental breakfast. Bishop Maxim expressed his joy in the eucharistic celebration, congratulating also Deacon Vladan and his wife Dejana Radovanovic on the baptism of their baby boy Maxim, wishing them and their kum, Deacon Branislav Kedzic many blessings from God.

Diocesan Days are not only a time when we share in liturgy and fellowship, dance and song, it's also a time we discuss our everyday parish business, the concerns and challenges we each face on a parish level and can be addressed at a diocesan level at the annual assembly. Led by the bishop and with the participation of all diocesan clergy, parish delegates and observers, this year's assembly was both fruitful and informative. Reports were presented by, among others, His Grace Bishop Maxim, the diocesan treasurer, auditing board, etc. Among the decisions rendered at this year's assembly it was decided that next year's Diocesan Days be held in Jackson. Also, per the recommendation and invitation of Protopresbyter Predrag Bojovic the diocesan Days celebration in 2019, the year our church will mark the 800th Anniversary of the Autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, will be hosted by St. Sava Church in San Gabriel.

In Fr. Timothy Pavlatos delivered a talk after lunch entitled, Living a Christian Life in the Midtst of the World. In his talk he spoke of the many things we are called to do as Christians such as read Scripture, observe the fast, take confession and communion, etc. However, he noted, if these things do not transform us then theymost certainly are for naught. Not only are they meant to transform us but that transformation is the manner in which we are all called to bring others to the Faith. That is, not through scholarly and intellectual means but through our actions. The Christian virtues of love, forgiveness, humility and so on – which we are meant to acquire by following the church's disciple - are our sermons to those around us. In citing two examples from the Gospels, the stoning of the woman caught in the act of adultery and the Samaritan woman, Fr. Timothy pointed to the methods used by our Lord which are to be used by us as well – our relationships with one another. Our relationships transform people just as Christ transformed the people He encounterd through His relationship with them.

This talk was followed by a number of activities: The Women's Conference and KSS Meeting, A Meeting of parish Treasurers: What Every Orthodox Treasurer Should Know, Children and Youth Activities, a Workshop for Sunday School Teachers: Enhancing Teaching Styles and Stewardship Question and Answers.

Following Vespers Protinica Rada Bojovic presented the newest selections just released from Sebastian Press which included the revised and expanded classic Prologue of Ohrid by St. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich; the sermons of Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory entitled Life According to the Gospel and the The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija in Serbian. There were special performances during dinner by the angelic sounds of Breze of Phoenix and the Dunav folklore ensemble from Irvine, California.

The annual gathering of clergy and laity from throughout the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America, Diocesan Days, began early Friday afternoon, September 1, 2017. As Los Angeles continued to bear through a historic heatwave clergy began slowly, one by one, to arrive to the LA suburb of Alhambra, home of St. Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and host of this year's diocesan gathering. A festive and joyous fellowship typically ensues when brother clergy meet after being apart for months. This, in fact, is one of the highlights of such events. As is customary in the Orthodox Tradition and in particular in the Western American Diocese, it originates from their bishop's warm welcome, whom the clergy first greet upon arriving - their ruling bishop His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America.

After a hearty Lenten meal the clergy were directed to the small hall where a clergy seminar was led by this year's guest speaker, Fr. Timothy Pavlatos. Besides being a parish priest at the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Portland, Oregon the guest speaker is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and adjunct professor at George Fox University's Graduate School of Counseling. Ironically enough Fr. Timothy's afternoon talk dealt mostly of the importance of clergy to support one another, be their for one another, to rejoice in one another. He made a made beautiful point at one point of his talk saying, "there's a reason our Lord sent His disciples out in pairs. There is safety in numbers. There is a reason He said, 'For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst'. Two priests having a dialogue about matters of a personal nature, is far better than a priest who engages in a demonic monologue in his head". He spoke extensively, during both his talk and the question and answer portion that followed, of the need of clergy to support and help one another. Emphasis was also placed on self-care. He cited St. Mark's gospel: "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there". In other words, the need for clergy to make time for themselves. A lively discussion ensued the talk.

Members of the Diocesan Council met in the late afternoon hours which ran into Vespers. Clergy and the faithful were given the great blessing of venerating the relics of St. Sebastian of Jackson and San Francisco, as the relics were brought to the cathedral by Fr. Marko Bojovic from the Jackson parish. Special guests to this year's Diocesan Days event were introduced after dinner which, besides the guest speaker, include: Sister Irina from Gracanica Monastery in Kosovo and Deacon Branislav Kedzic, professor at the Theological Faculty in Belgrade. During the post dinner Question and Answer session, questions were also addressed to Sister Irina of the life of Serbs in Kosovo. She spoke of the many hardships faced by Serbs who remained in Kosovo but also of the great blessings of the life there.

Slava of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017

Created on Sunday, 27 August 2017 23:06

The celebration started with a bounty of fresh flowers adorning the church prepared by Luba Karnaookh. Saturday Vespers and Blessing of the Five Loaves was lead by Bishop Maxim, our resident clergy and two guest deacons: Deacon Vladan Radovanovich and Deacon Branislav Kedzich, professor of Theological school from Belgrade, Serbia. We were also blessed with the presence of Sister Irina a nun from monastery Gracanica in Kosovo, who made this day even more festive.

Our Church Slava celebration began with the children of our parish welcoming Bishop Maxim and presenting him with flowers outside the church. This was immediately followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which included the tonsuring of Luke/Ethan Livingston to Reader. It was a pleasure to see so many of you receive Holy Communion. We continued with a procession around the church and memorial services for the founders and supporters of our church. Proto Dane invited all in attendance to join us for the blessing and cutting of the Slava Kolac in our church hall. Kumovi for this year's Slava were Lindsey and Jeffery Gray, a couple who's grandparents were founders of our church. The youth prepared a beautiful program for all our guests, we are blessed to have such good and talented children in our church. A wonderful complimentary lunch followed, that was provided by our Kumovi. The wonderful women from our parish treated us with homemade sweets.

After lunch there was a short presentation about life in Kosovo, by Sister Irina. Bishop Maxim introduced Books about Kosovo Heritage in Serbian and English and many people purchased books and/or donated financial help for Kosovo.

On this day, four of our parishioners were recognized by Bishop with Gramata, for their long work and devotions in our parish. Gramata recipients were: Anna Bradarich, Biserka Delich, George Mironenko, Nada Kosanovich. We thank God for their willingness to serve for these many years, and also pray that God grant them many more years of health and all good things.

Our Kum Jeffery Gray gave a beautiful speech on how to love and care for our church and each other.

It was truly a wonderful and blessed Feast Day enjoyed by all who attended.

Holy Dormition - Slava of the First Serbian benevolent society in San Francisco

The organization of the first distinctly Serbian society in America, then known as the Serbian Montenegrin Literary and Benevolent Society of San Francisco, in 1880, came about at the same time as a number of important historical developments. In 1878, the Austro-Hungarian military authorities occupied the South Slavic provinces of Bosnia and Hercegovina, instituting policies of "Divide and Rule", and compulsory military service, particularly resented by the Serbs. In Dalmatia the Serbs organized separate political parties and newspapers in 1878 and 1880. Serbian immigration to the United States increasedsubstantially beginning in the 1880's. A significant· portion of the newer immigration originated in the newly occupied districts of Hercegovina, where emigration began immediately after the occupation.

Of the eight founding members of the First Serbian Benevolent Society, six were from Boka Kotorska: Antonije Vukasovich, Krsto Gopchevich, Jovo Pavkovich, Rade Begovich, Jovan and Vladimir Jovovich. Djuro S. Martinovich was from Montenegro, and Mihail Rashkovich from Vojvodina, a rarity in a colony overwhelmingly by origin from Boka Kotorska, Hercegovina and Montenegro.